Hotelier admits dirty premises charges – again

The owner of a seafront hotel has been prosecuted for the second time for cooking food in unhygienic and dirty surroundings.

The case follows an investigation by health officials at the Grand Beach Hotel on South Promenade, South Shore where food was prepared for guests and for guests at the company’s nearby sister hotel The Albany on Clifton Drive,Blackpool.

A councillor branded conditions at the Grand Beach as "unacceptable"

Before the court was 72-year-old Aheed Sultan who admitted two offences brought by Blackpool Council using the Food Safety Act.

Blackpool magistrates heard he did not comply with the law by keeping his premises clean and that he failed to ensure proper pest control measures were in place.

In 2009, Sultan, who ran the hotel with members of his family, was fined £3,700 for food hygiene offences and was ordered to pay £990 costs.

Magistrates did not sentence after the latest hearing as they were not satisfied financial information laid before them about Sultan’s earnings were accurate.

Grot spot: Grand Beach

They told his lawyer Christopher Newton to return to court at a later date with figures drawn up by an accountant.

Lynda Bennett,prosecuting said the council acted following a tip off by a member of the public.

Officers found a back yard piled high with rubbish including food waste,bed bases and mattresses. There was also a bad smell , she said.

The door to the kitchen had a gap where vermin could get in and in the kitchen there were dirty utensils and surfaces which could cause cross-contamination of food.

Miss Bennett said: “The cooker top was filthy, so were the floors and there was a dirty bain marie with pieces of bacon and sausage in it.

“This kitchen was also being used to cook food for the Albany Hotel where it was transported to. There has been a history of concern about these premises.

“When this man was previously prosecuted he was given advice but it still a real cause for concern.”

Defending,Mr Newton said that new kitchen equipment had been installed and was ‘bright and sparkling’ when he visited the hotel.

He added: “Mr Sultan intended to employ an experienced manager and has receipts from a pest control firm he has called in.”

Coun Gillian Campbell, deputy leader of Blackpool Council, said: “The conditions at the Grand Beach Hotel were completely unacceptable. Action like this is designed to protect the public from harm as well as protecting businesses which do comply with the law and act in a professional and proper manner. There is no excuse for food businesses not to comply with food hygiene regulations and put their customers at risk.”

Neither Mr Sultan or a hotel spokesman were available to speak to The Gazette yesterday.